Inquest Into Death Of 'McCann Troll' Brenda Leyland To Be Held By Leicester Coroner

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PA/Huffington Post UK

An inquest will open today on a woman found dead after being accused of directing online abuse at Madeleine McCann's parents. The body of Brenda Leyland, 63, was found in a hotel room two days after she featured in a Sky News report highlighting internet "trolling" of Kate and Gerry McCann.

Ms Leyland, from Burton Overy, Leicestershire, is reported to have posted thousands of messages on Twitter attacking the McCanns, whose daughter Madeleine disappeared in Portugal in 2007. Officers from Leicestershire Police were alerted to the discovery of Ms Leyland's body at a hotel in Enderby at 1.42pm on Saturday.

An inquest into the non-suspicious death will be opened by the Leicester Coroner Catherine Mason this afternoon.

The Sky News reporter who doorstepped the divorcee has now himself become the target for online abuse. Since Ms Leyland's death was revealed on Sunday, more than 1,800 people have liked a Facebook group calling for Martin Brunt to be sacked, while Twitter users have sent viscous messages to the veteran crime reporter.